1 Nephi 3

Verse 7 They should write a hymn about this verse. :) I truly love this verse, it gives hope in so many ways. Including that there is no commandment given that is not achievable. Those that are struggling keeping the commandments should have this passage memorized. I think I will require it when I am working with them from now on. There is nothing too hard, too complicated, too far out of our comfort zones that we cannot accomplish if the Lord has asked us to do it. This includes giving away our sins and addictions.


Verses 29-30 This has always amazed me. I have always wondered how someone, anyone, can be administered to by an angle, and then, even before the room has lost its light, begin to murmur. How is that possible? I guess it just goes to show how quickly we, as humans, are able to forget. This demonstrates the teaching that there is nothing more powerful to the soul then being visited by the Holy Ghost. Visions, even by angles, are not a lasting as being touched by the Holy Ghost. What we see with our eyes, hear with our ears, smell with our nose and touch with our hands are soon forgotten. But what we have felt with our soul lasts much longer. It helps to have the opportunity for our testimonies to be strengthened. Thus prayer is so important.

Keep My Commandments...

Here is a list of the times we are promised prosperity if we keep the commandments of the Lord:


1 Nephi 2:20
2 Nephi 1:9
2 Nephi 1:20
2 Nephi 3:2
2 Nephi 4:4



So far...

1 Nephi 2

Verse 16 : If we have a desire to know the mysteries of God we should follow the example of Nephi when he wants to know if what his father, Lehi, was doing was of God. He cried unto the Lord. Prayer is such a powerful tool in our daily lives, not only to seek forgiveness but to gain knowledge.


Verse 20 If we keep the commandments of the Lord we shall prosper. I have decided to keep track of all the times this is said throughout the Book of Mormon and the rest of the scriptures.. I know that it is mentioned several times...

1 Nephi 1

Verse 20 : This scripture really impacted me when I read it. I had heard Elder Bednar mention it in a talk before. It concerns the "tender mercies of the Lord" However, I didn't know the following part until I read it today. - "But behold, I, Nephi will show unto you the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom He hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

What a wonderfully powerful promise. Those that are struggling with addictions can be assured that, if they have faith, the Lord will give them the power of deliverance. It is a very comforting thought. This is in the very first chapter of the Book of Mormon, amazing how you can see things for the first time even after reading them many time before.

One of the cross references in this passage refers to Alma 34:38. This too had a great impact on me. It starts out that we should "contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it." I was thinking about this as I read it. How true it is. We contend with the Holy Ghost all the time. He wants to be with us, to help, guide and inspire. Yet we live our lives in such a way that we push him out. We go to great lengths, sometimes, to not have him around. Why? I have realized that maybe I do it on purpose so I don't have to change. So I don't have to step out of my comfort zone. Because I am not ready to "give away all of my sins." Well, time to change...